by fault of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by fault of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to imply that someone or something has done something wrong or caused some sort of a problem. For example: "The accident was caused by fault of the driver."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Following many months of fits and starts, "Anti" arrived last week in an awkward flurry, allegedly leaked a few days early by fault of Tidal, Jay Z's fledgling streaming service, which later told Spin magazine that the leak was due to "a system error".

The New Yorker

The Curse of Cincy continues, with the Bengals getting ousted entirely by fault of their own due to a horrible fumble followed by several penalties that put the Steelers in a position to score a field goal late in the game and add one more year to Cincinnati's 25-year playoff drought.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Undoubtedly, La Salle was hampered by faults of character and lacked the qualities of leadership.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Fault analyses have found that rather large fluctuations within the MHD generator are induced by faults of the inverter and power transmission line, but control of the inverters can recover the MHD generation system to normal operation within 0.15 s.

Energy Conversion and Management

The third type is controlled by fault zones of which the strikes are perpendicular to the hydrocarbon re-migration pathways.

Petroleum Science

In an interview, Lacey said her job is to balance public safety and victims' rights, as well as doing "the right thing by people who are ill by no fault of their own".

Los Angeles Times

She was probably the most intimidating person I've ever met in my life, not by any fault of her own, just by ― she made everything that we were doing.

Huffington Post

By no fault of the design team, any attempt at architectural distinction seems compromised by security demands and a grandiose nod to the regional Seljuq vernacular meant at least tacitly to crown a thinly-disguised vice-regal intent.

Huffington Post

By a fault of timing, he is the forever crasher, the automatic odd man out.

The New Yorker

For one thing, many of these workers are not trained to U.S. technical standards in their home countries, by no fault of their own.

The New Yorker

With Sprewell practically playing one-on-five -- by no fault of his own -- the Knicks fell behind, 23-12, athehendnd of the first quarter.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "by fault of", ensure it's clear who or what is responsible for the error. Be direct and avoid ambiguity to maintain clarity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "by fault of" without clear evidence of culpability. Hasty accusations can undermine your argument and damage your credibility. Always verify the source of the problem before assigning blame.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by fault of" functions as a causal prepositional phrase, introducing the reason or cause for a particular event or situation. As Ludwig AI explains, it implies that someone or something has done something wrong or caused a problem.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "by fault of" is a causal phrase used to assign responsibility for an event, often a negative one. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct but less common, appearing primarily in news and scientific contexts. When writing, be clear about who or what is at fault to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "due to the error of" or "because of the mistake of" may provide greater clarity or suit different registers. While acceptable, consider the context to ensure the phrase's formality aligns with your writing's tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

due to the error of

Replaces "fault" with "error", emphasizing the mistake as the cause.

because of the mistake of

Substitutes "by fault of" with a more explicit causal relationship based on a mistake.

owing to the negligence of

Indicates that the cause is related to a lack of proper care or attention.

as a result of the error by

Specifies that the outcome happened because of a prior mistake.

on account of the failing of

Replaces "fault" with "failing", highlighting the failure as the reason.

attributable to the mistake of

Positions the mistake as the definite reason for the occurrence.

caused by the blunder of

Blunder replaces "fault" with a suggestion of clumsiness.

through the oversight of

Suggests that inattention or neglect contributed to the outcome.

stemming from the error of

Illustrates that the cause is a consequence of a previous error.

arising from the mistake of

Highlights that the mistake initiated the situation.

FAQs

What does "by fault of" mean?

The phrase "by fault of" indicates that something occurred due to someone's or something's error, mistake, or responsibility.

How can I use "by fault of" in a sentence?

You can use "by fault of" to indicate that a negative outcome was caused by someone's mistake. For example: "The project failed by fault of poor management."

Are there alternatives to "by fault of"?

Yes, you can use alternatives like "due to the error of", "because of the mistake of", or "owing to the negligence of depending on the context".

Is "by fault of" formal or informal?

While generally acceptable, "by fault of" can sound slightly formal. In more informal contexts, consider using simpler alternatives like "because of" or "due to".